Common Conditions

Estrogen, Metabolic Syndrome, and Erectile Function

In their Journal of Sexual Medicine report, researchers from the University of Florence in Italy explained that while estrogen receptors were important for counteracting the effects of hyperestrogenism in fetal or newborn males, it was unclear how an excess of estrogen affected adult penile function.

They noted that obesity presented a workable model, as estrogen levels may rise because of the increased expression of aromatase in fat tissue. Visceral obesity, they explained, is a major symptom of metabolic syndrome, which increases one’s risk for cardiovascular problems and type 2 diabetes.

To learn more about estrogen’s role in erectile dysfunction associated with metabolic syndrome, they conducted a rabbit study. When given a high fat diet, rabbits exhibit symptoms of metabolic syndrome that are similar to humans, including obesity, dyslipidemia, and glucose intolerance.